BCSO helps disabled students at the fair

Published: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 06:55 PM.

For Erik Mickle, father of an autistic child, taking Erika, 7, to the fair during the daytime event, helped avoid risks that might be present at night.

“There’s not that much of a crowd here and autistic children have a hard time waiting,” Mickle said. “This one here,” he said, referring to Erika, “likes anything that deals with speed and spinning.”

Erika was one of two riders on the Sizzler.

Not every student went to the fair to feed a need for speed. Ayonte Sims, Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School student, said she attended the event for the past two years and looked forward to getting on the slow rides.

“It’s a really wonderful unifying event where disabled is normal…yet it’s just fun,” said Cynthia McCauley, executive director at Chautauqua. The school brought more than 70 students to the event.

“Fun overcomes all obstacles,” she added.

Myers International opened the fair from 10 a.m. to noon to all schools with disabled children, free of charge. The company also provided cotton candy and popcorn.

After the ride was over, Buntin escorted Blake off the ride and, with the aid of three helpers, secured him back into his wheel chair.

The annual visit to the fair has become somewhat of a tradition.

According to Capt. Greg Peel, BCSO has escorted the students to the fair since 2002.

“We’re more than happy to do it,” Peel said. “This is probably the best day we have at the fair.”

For Erik Mickle, father of an autistic child, taking Erika, 7, to the fair during the daytime event, helped avoid risks that might be present at night.

“There’s not that much of a crowd here and autistic children have a hard time waiting,” Mickle said. “This one here,” he said, referring to Erika, “likes anything that deals with speed and spinning.”

Erika was one of two riders on the Sizzler.

Not every student went to the fair to feed a need for speed. Ayonte Sims, Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School student, said she attended the event for the past two years and looked forward to getting on the slow rides.

“It’s a really wonderful unifying event where disabled is normal…yet it’s just fun,” said Cynthia McCauley, executive director at Chautauqua. The school brought more than 70 students to the event.

“Fun overcomes all obstacles,” she added.

Myers International opened the fair from 10 a.m. to noon to all schools with disabled children, free of charge. The company also provided cotton candy and popcorn.